18 AUGUST 2017

Don’t Bank On Haye Vs Chisora Happening Any Time Soon

By Clive Bernath: Despite promoter Frank Warren stating that an all British showdown between Dereck Chisora and David Haye is ‘Inevitable’ I would not bank on the fight happening any time soon.

Warren, who promotes Chisora, confirmed Thursday that the Londoner had filed an appeal with the British Boxing Board of Control after receiving an indefinite ban for brawling with Haye last month. Chisora and Haye came to blows at the post fight press conference after Chisora had been out-pointed by Vitali Klitschko in Germany. Chisora’s cause had not been helped by slapping Vitali at the weigh in and splitting water at Vitali’s younger brother Wladimir Klitschko in the ring on fight night.

With the appeal now officially lodged Warren believes that if Chisora is successful in regaining his licence it makes sense for Haye and Chisora to settle their differences in the boxing ring.

"It’s a natural fight, it doesn’t matter what anyone says," Warren told Press Association Sport. "It’s a bigger fight than either of them fighting Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko.

"There’s lot for them to fight about - in a proper environment. I do see the fight happening. It’s the proper forum for them to settle their differences."

On the surface and bearing in mind that tv cameras filmed the post fight brawl, the weigh in slap and the spitting incident, Warren still believes Chisora has grounds to appeal

"The appeal has gone in already,” said Warren. The grounds for the appeal are that we’re not satisfied with the way the hearing went. There was also no chance to review any evidence before the hearing. All I want to see is a fair hearing.

"Dereck Chisora will present his side of events and then we’ll see what happens.

"A lot of stuff came out at the first hearing. For example we thought (BBBofC chairman) Charlie Giles was in charge but it turns out there was no steward from the BBBofC representing the British boxer’s interests. Instead he was working for the WBC.

"We wanted him to give evidence at the hearing but he didn’t. They said he was unavailable yet he was in the building and left by the back door.

"He didn’t even put in a written report which is strange given what happened and that he was there.”

A Chisora vs Haye fight in London would indeed prove to be a massive draw but there are many obstacles in the way before the two camps can even contemplate facing each in the ring.

Not only will Chisora have to be granted a boxing licence but Haye would have to give himself up to German police for questioning about his involvement in the brawl and he would also have to stand before the British Boxing Board of Control to re apply for his boxing licence. That in itself could prove a massive obstacle. And lastly, even if Haye and Chisora did manage to be re-licensed I very much doubt Haye would agree to the fight. Not unless he was offered a massive financial incentive and I’m not so sure a fight of this magnitude could generate enough cash for this fight to happen anytime soon which is shame because I actually think this could be a cracking domestic battle.